“Boko Haram is not a tool by Muslims to attack Christians” – Shehu of Borno

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Garbai, in a shocking revelation yesterday, told the News Agency of Nigeria that Boko Haram had killed thirteen district heads, two council members and many other Muslim adherents within his domain.

He also had a message for the nation.

Nigerians must see Boko Haram as a common enemy and not an attempt by Muslims to islamise or divide the country. The monarch, who as a member of the Inter-Religious Council of Nigeria, was emphatic in his words.

“Boko Haram is not a deliberate attempt by Muslims to attack Christians; if it is, they would not have attacked me.

“If it is a question of targeting only Christians, thirteen of my district heads, two council members and many other Muslims would not have been killed. The Emirs of Fika and Kano are Muslims, yet they were attacked by the sect, who also killed many other Muslims leaders.”

In downplaying the religious undertones of the insurgency, he said that some Christians worked in his office and that a few were traditional title holders in his palace, adding that he held regular meetings with the state’s Christian community.

“It is, therefore, clear that from top to bottom, there is nobody who is not affected. Churches, mosques, parents and children were affected, so it is not a question of the group targeting only a particular group of Nigerians.”

Garbai said that Nigerians had fought in the past to keep the country united, and called on everyone to condemn any violation of the country’s constitution. He also advocated for dialogue as an effective tool in dispute resolution.

Speaking on the functions of the Inter Religious Council of Nigeria, which is made up of an equal number of Muslims and Christians, he said that the council “discusses issues that will promote peace, including the Boko Haram crisis, and advise the government to take necessary action to prevent the crisis from spreading to other parts of the country.”

He also expressed satisfaction with the prosecution of the state of emergency in the state.

“Things are now going on smoothly. Nobody is complaining of harassment by soldiers, police or Joint Task Force (JTF),” he said.